TORONTO,ON– “For us, it has been overcoming adversity; with all our injuries and our set backs we still managed to pull it out and now we’re going to the OUA final four.”

These were the words of freshman wing, Aaron Best who accurately summed up the Ryerson Rams’ regular season.

After the program suffered injuries from key players including Aaron Best, Bjorn Michaelsen, Nem Stankovic, Greg Osawe and Ola Adegboruwa, the Rams regular season record suffered in the process in the first half of the season.

Ryerson's Bjorn Michaelsen with the Big Rejection

Despite early struggles, “mental toughness” as Head Coach Roy Rana would put it, and support is what glued everyone together.

“We really just pulled together and became one unit, one team. We supported each other through the rough times and now it’s showing on the court,” Best told NPH in the post game.

Jahmal Jones led the way over a tough Ottawa team by registering a game-high 22 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Ryerson held on to the lead for the majority of the game, however the Gee-Gees would not lay down and give up on the road. Led by a collective effort, Ottawa continued to scrap to give themselves a chance to tie up the game at the buzzer.

It was a historical game for the Rams not simply due to advancing, but also bidding farewell to Kerr Hall as it was the final game before they move to Peter Gilgan Athletic Centre at the Gardens.

The Ryerson Rams will now advance to the OUA Final Four where they will join McMaster, Lakehead and Carleton to compete for a ticket to the CIS National championships in Nova Scotia!

When asked about the biggest test of the season that they will face in the final four, Best responded, “We have to play with everything and leave it all out on the floor…that’s it.”

Well said.

Written by Tariq Sbiet

NPH National Scout, tracking Canada's TOP prospects from high school to the NBA. With a genuine passion for the game, you will find Sbiet in the bleachers of most major tournaments and events across Canada & the United States -- Discovering talent from coast-to-coast, while absorbing knowledge at every opportunity. Sbiet has covered the game at every level, combining a basketball and media background with a degree in Media & Journalism from the University of Guelph-Humber.
*Inspiration is the spark plug to success*